Rotary lock protection member

ABSTRACT

This invention pertains to rotary locks and their protection when said locks are used with vaults or enclosures for coin collecting systems such as parking meters. The door or heavy wall of the vault or enclosure in which the lock is mounted for releasing or securing the vault is counterbored for retention of a rotatable shouldered plug of hardened metal. In and through the plug is a passageway for the receiving and passing of a key. The plug in its mounted condition has its exterior face flush or substantially flush with the outer surface of the vault member in which it is mounted.

United States Patent Stiffel Mar. 5, 1974 ROTARY LOCK PROTECTION MEMBER [76] Inventor: Henry R. Stiffel, 170 Demarest Ave., River Vale, NJ. 07675 22 Filed: Dec. 20, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 316,705

[52] US. Cl. 70/417 [51] Int. Cl E051) 15/16 [58] Field of Search... 70/417, 418, 416, 86, 85, 63, 70/454 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,513 6/1928 Jacobi 70/417 X 3,199,321 8/1965 Sollenberger 70/417 X 3,261,186 7/l966 Laviane 70/417 X 3,538,724 11/1970 Davenbaugh 70/86 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralph R. Roberts [57] ABSTRACT This invention pertains to rotary locks and their protection when said locks are used with vaults or enclosures for coin collecting systems such as parking meters. The door or heavy wall of the vault or enclosure in which the lock is mounted for releasing or securing the vault is counterbored for retention of a rotatable shouldered plug of hardened metal. In and through the plug is a passageway for the receiving and passing of a key. The plug in its mounted condition has its exterior face flush or substantially flush with the outer surface of the vault member in which it is mounted.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEM 51914 3,795,123

- E: H WWW Hm ROTARY LOCK PROTECTION MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In accordance with the classification of the art as established in the U.S. Patent Office the present invention pertains to the general class of Locks and further to the subclass entitled, tamper prevention or attack defeating" and the further subclass thereunder of armoring.

2. Description of the Prior Art In parking meters and like coin operated devices the coins are collected in containers or vaults having doors or cover members. Key operated locks are used to provide access control to the interiors of the vaults. Be cause of collection requirements, each vault in a like grouping of coin collecting systems uses a lock which is adapted to be opened by one key which is coded so as to also open a large group, if not all, of the vaults of a particular collection system. Although the coins collected in the vault are ofa quantity usually representing only a few dollars, this amount provides a serious inducement to vandals and thieves to break into the housing. One means of attacking such a vault housing is to attack the lock. Most locks in such outdoor systems, because of structural and environmental conditions, are made of material such as brass, die castings and the like. Drilling out such a lock is easy unless such drilling is prevented, hence, it is desirable that these locks be provided with the greatest possible amount of protection commensurate with cost.

Vaults in which protective measures such as strengthening the walls, protecting the hinges and like means have been provided are, of course, known in the industry. Also is known the attempt to protect key'type locks generally used with this type of door or housing. For example, a parking meter mechanism as described in US. Pat. No. 3,204,438 as issued on Sept. 7th, 1965 to SOLLENBERGER describes a protective concept in which a hardened guard member in the form of a disc is carried behind a hardened tubular member. This tubular member is installed in the key access opening to provide protection against tapping of the bore in the housing. The hardened guard disc is rotatably retained behind this tubular member and in front of the lock which is to protect. The present invention contemplates that a shouldered plug, having a passageway therethrough for the insertion and passage of a key, is made out of hardened steel. As a protective device this plug is mounted in a counterbored hole in the body so as to be freely rotatable in this bore should a vandal or thief attempt to drill into the lock. A drill bit carried and rotated by a power drill, when advanced toward and to the rotatable plug, engages the key passageway and as the end of the drill bit engages this passageway the rotation of the drill bits spins the plug. The lock used with this plug is contemplated to be supported in a bore in the housing or in a retainer carried by the door or housing. Means is provided in the support retention of the lock to accept any driving force applied against the face of the plug by the vandal or thief.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the housing or door in which this rotatable plug is to be used is drilled or otherwise formed to receive the housing of a lock which is disposed to move a bolt or move a latch. This drilled hole for the lock may be made from the back side of the door or vault. The forward portion of the drilled hole is reduced in diameter to accept the smaller diameter of a shouldered plug provided by this invention. The two-step diameter plug has a slot therethrough providing a passageway and alignment for the key which is to be fitted into the lock. This plug is made of hardened steel so as to resist pounding and drilling and is rotatably mounted in a counterbore formed in the housing or door. In its mounted condition the face of the hardened plug is near to or is flush with the housing outer surface. In this mounted condition the plug is adapted to resist pounding and chipping by sharp instruments such as chisels. A drill bit when applied to the plug face in an attempt to drill out the lock may in time make a small penetration of the plug or engagement with the keyway. When this occurs the torque of the bit causes the plug to freely spin in the counterbored hole.

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed to insure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. This disclosure, however, is not intended to prejudice that purpose of a patent which is to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how it may later be disguised by variations in form or additions of further improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specific embodiment of the rotary lock projection member as adopted for use in a vault or door and showing a preferred means of construction and assembly. This specific embodiment and an alternate embodiment thereof have been chosen for the purposes of illustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a sectional side view of a vault door in which is mounted a lock and a hardened plug rotatably mounted in a stepped bore, this view being taken on the line l-I of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 2 represents a front view of the door of FIG. 1, the view taken on the line 22 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 represents an enlarged isometric view showing a two-piece construction of the rotatable plug;

FIG. 4 represents an isometric view of an alternate construction of a plug like that of FIG. 3, but with the plug made as a one-piece member, and

FIG. 5 represents a fragmentary sectional side view showing an alternate mounting arrangement of the plug in a door or housing.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience; these names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to like members throughout the five figures of the drawing.

The drawing accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose certain details of construction for the purpose of explanation of the invention, but it should be understood that structural details may be -modified in various respects and that the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms than shown.

Mounting Arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 Referring now in particular to the drawing and to the door as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown in installed condition a lock slidably mounted in a bore 12 formed in a metal door 14 of conventional configuration and construction. The bore 12 is reduced to provide a forward bore 16 which provides a step down or reduced diameter portion. Immediately forward of bore 16 may be a further reduced bore 18. This bore 18, when provided, is of only a very short length. The door casting 14 is formed to receive a back-up plate 20 which, with a portion of the door 14, provides a guideway for a movable bolt or latch member 22 actuated by the lock 10. The back-up and support member 20, as shown, is adapted to receive and retain one-half of the slide bolt 22. This back-up member is attached to the door 14 by means of cap screws, not shown. This backup member 20 may be hardened or is otherwise made sufficiently strong so as to act as a stop to resist any inward or backward movement of the lock 10 when a rotary plug 28 is struck by vandals.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotatable hardened plugs may be made either as a one-piece or as a twopiece unit. In FIG. 3 it is contemplated that plug member 28 will have a tubular member 30 of either steel or of another material which may have lubricating properties. This tubular member has a shoulder 31 which extends outwardly and a stepped bore 32 into which is mounted a hardened tubular member 33 which has a key slot 34 formed therein. This member 33 is preferably of hardened steel adapted to resist attack by means of a chisel or the like. Any attempt to drill or chip the member 33 is resisted by its hardened properties as well as the freely rotatable nature of the plug when mounted in the bore.

The plug of FIG. 4 is similar to the rotary plug of FIG. 3 except that this plug member 40 is a one-piece member having a two-step outer diameter 42 and 43. The diameter 43 extends for the length of shoulder portion 44. In this plug is formed a slot 46 for the passage therethrough of a key which is to be inserted into lock 10. The slot terminates at a recess 47.

The length of the diameter 30 is made to accommodate the bore 16 in FIG. 1 or the length of ring member 50 as seen in FIG. 5. This ring member may be of hardened steel and preferably has a groove 52 formed on and in its outer diameter. A mating groove 54 is formed in the bore 55 in door 14a, which groove at the time of assembly is filled with epoxy or like cement which after setting or curing makes removal of ring 50 from the outside of the door 14a impossible except by cutting this ring from the door 14a. An enlarged diameter 56 rotatably retains the shoulder portion 44 and an inner smaller diameter portion 58 provides a stop shoulder which engages shoulder 44 to provide a stop to prevent the unwanted inward movement of plug 40.

Use and Operation of the Plugs of this Invention In the vault to which this invention is directed a door 14 or a housing similarly constructed are formed with a large boss portion in which is machined a bore 12 in which is mounted and retained a lock 10. Bore 12 is formed of a determined depth and its diameter is slightly larger than the larger diameter of the plugs as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that this larger diameter of the plug is freely rotatable in bore 12. The reduced diameter bore 16 in the boss portion of the housing or door is disposed to receive the smaller diameter of either plug 28 or 40 and to act as a rotatable guide and stop for this plug.

In the assembly shown in FIG. 1, the forward portion of the plug is short of the forward or outer surface of the casting. The short remaining reduced diameter 18, which is approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of the hardened plug portion 33 of the plug 30, acts as a guard for the outer cylindrical portion of the plug which may be a different material having special lubricating or operating protection not available in a hardened steel sleeve. When installed the plug 28 is freely rotatable in the bore with only the smaller hardened plug portion 33 being exposed to attack by vandals.

The solid plug 40 of FIG. 4 may also be used in the door of FIG. 1 in exactly the same manner as plug 28 but with the whole piece hardened to provide resistance to vandal attack such as by drilling and chiselin g. In such an installation it usually is desired that the forward or outer face portion of the plug be brought to a flush condition with the outer surface of the housing or door, in which condition bore 18 is eliminated.

This elimination is particularly desirable in certain housings where it is difficult to provide internal enlarged bores such as bore 12 which is larger than bore 16 in FIG. 1. To provide protection and easy installation the stepped bore, as seen in FIG. 5, has the internal bore 58 sized to receive the lock. Bore 56 and shoulder 44 on plug 40 are larger than bore 58 and are sized to provide a diametrical and longitudinal freely sliding fit. A hardened ring member 50 is larger in diameter than bore 56. This ring member 50 has its inner bore sized to rotatably retain the diameter 42 of plug member 40. The length of the ring 50 and the diameter 42 portion of the plug member 40 are substantially the same so that in its installed condition the outer face of the smaller end of the plug 40 is substantially flush with the outer face of the ring 50 and the door 14a. After mounting plug member 40 in bore 56 epoxy cement or a similar permanent affixing medium is placed in grooves 52 and 54 and ring 50 inserted.

Removal of plug 40 after the epoxy cement has hardened or cured is most difficult and in practice is accomplished by using a circular saw carried on a special guide spindle which is removably mounted in rectangular guideway 46. With the retaining bore portion holding ring 50 cut away from the member 14a, a special pulling tool inserted through guideway 46 and into the shallow bore 47 formed in the plug permits this member 40 to now be removed from the casting 14a.

No matter which installation is utilized the simple step bore 12 permits installation ofa plug 30 or 40 into the housing so that the plug is freely rotatable. The end of the plug is at or so near the outer surface of the housing or door that there is no access to the plug for holding the plug in a particular nonrotating condition while being attacked by a vandal or a thief. It is contemplated that any direct driving action on the plug will be resisted either by the lock and the back-up bar 20 of FIG. 1 which engages the lock to prevent rearward travel of the lock or, in the case of FIG. 5, of the shoulder 44 of the plug with the reduced bore 58. Several arrangements of the lock installation and the latch bar may be provided depending upon the type of vault or closure, however, this is merely a matter of selection.

In the assembly of FIG. 1, the length of shoulder 18 is contemplated to be about one-sixteenth of an inch.

This length is not sufficient for a tap to be used to form a thread strong enough to install and turn a threaded member and apply a thrust force against the plug.

Terms such as left, right, up, down, bottom, top, front, back, in, out and the like are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawing. These terms are merely for the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the hardened rotary plug may be constructed or used.

While a particular embodiment of the door and mounted plug and an alternate embodiment have been shown and described it is to be understood the invention is not limited thereto and protection is sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary lock protection member for use in a heavy walled portion of a vault, a door for a vault and like portions for a coin receiving and retaining system, the lock protection member in combination with the heavy walled portion including: (a) a stepped bore formed in and through a heavy walled portion of said system; (b) a rotatable plug having a key passageway therethrough and having its outer longitudinal extent formed with at least two diameters of different extents, the largest diameter being rotatably carried in the stepped bore in the heavy wall and with said largest diameter portion being inward of the outer surface of the heavy wall portion and with the adjacent next smaller diameter portion rotatably supported in said bore and extending toward the outer surface of the heavy walled portion, this smaller diameter in combination with the larger diameter establishing a shoulder which is engaged by cooperating means in the bore to position the plug so that its outer facing end is next to the outer surface of the heavy walled member, and with at least the exposed end surface of the plug which is not protected by said heavy wall being hardened to resist drilling, chiseling and the like, and (c) a key-type lock carried by said heavy walled portion with the entrance end of which the rotary plug is a one-piece member and is of hardened steel.

3. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 2 in which the smaller diameter portion of the plug which is adjacent the larger diameter portion is rotatably retained by a hardened sleeve member of substantially the same length as said smaller diameter portion, this hardened sleeve being fixedly mounted in the stepped bore so as to engage the shoulder of the plug between the larger and adjacent smaller diameters of said plug to position the plug with its outer end substantially flush with the outer end of the sleeve and the heavy walled portion.

4. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the rotary plug is of two pieces with at least the inner portion hardened to resist attack by drilling and the like and in which the stepped bore in the heavy walled portion has an outer reduced bore of short length, the plug and its hardened inner portion being retained and positioned so as to not enter this outer reduced bore of short length.

5. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the lock is carried in the stepped bore with that end of the lock which is opposite the key entering end being supported against inner thrust forces by a backup bar fixedly secured to the heavy walled portion.

6. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the rotary plug is made with two diameters and the stepped bore has its outer extent made as a bore which is larger than the bore portion which retains the larger diameter of the plug, this outer larger bore being made substantially the same length as the outer reduced diameter of the plug and there is provided a hardened steel sleeve which is sized so that its inner diameter provides a rotating guide and support for the outer reduced diameter of the plug and the outer diameter of the hardened sleeve is sized so as to snugly fit in this larger outer bore, the sleeve in mounted condition in the bore being substantially at the outer surface of the heavy walled portion and with the rotary plug in mounted condition, the mounted sleeve is fixedly secured in the heavy walled portion to prevent removal of the plug and the sleeve.

7. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 6 in which are formed complementary grooves in the larger bore and the outer diameter of the hardened sleeve and permanent cement is used to fixedly secure the sleeve in the bore to provide the permanent mounting of the sleeve. 

1. A rotary lock protection member for use in a heavy walled portion of a vault, a door for a vault and like portions for a coin receiving and retaining system, the lock protection member in combination with the heavy walled portion including: (a) a stepped bore formed in and through a heavy walled portion of said system; (b) a rotatable plug having a key passageway therethrough and havinG its outer longitudinal extent formed with at least two diameters of different extents, the largest diameter being rotatably carried in the stepped bore in the heavy wall and with said largest diameter portion being inward of the outer surface of the heavy wall portion and with the adjacent next smaller diameter portion rotatably supported in said bore and extending toward the outer surface of the heavy walled portion, this smaller diameter in combination with the larger diameter establishing a shoulder which is engaged by cooperating means in the bore to position the plug so that its outer facing end is next to the outer surface of the heavy walled member, and with at least the exposed end surface of the plug which is not protected by said heavy wall being hardened to resist drilling, chiseling and the like, and (c) a key-type lock carried by said heavy walled portion with the entrance end of the lock adjacent the larger diameter end of the rotary plug and in alignment with the key passageway, the plug and lock in mounted condition being retained by fixed means so as to resist violent attacks by hammers, punches and the like, said plug in mounted condition being freely rotatable in said bore while its longitudinal movement is restrained within predetermined limits in said bore.
 2. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the rotary plug is a one-piece member and is of hardened steel.
 3. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 2 in which the smaller diameter portion of the plug which is adjacent the larger diameter portion is rotatably retained by a hardened sleeve member of substantially the same length as said smaller diameter portion, this hardened sleeve being fixedly mounted in the stepped bore so as to engage the shoulder of the plug between the larger and adjacent smaller diameters of said plug to position the plug with its outer end substantially flush with the outer end of the sleeve and the heavy walled portion.
 4. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the rotary plug is of two pieces with at least the inner portion hardened to resist attack by drilling and the like and in which the stepped bore in the heavy walled portion has an outer reduced bore of short length, the plug and its hardened inner portion being retained and positioned so as to not enter this outer reduced bore of short length.
 5. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the lock is carried in the stepped bore with that end of the lock which is opposite the key entering end being supported against inner thrust forces by a back-up bar fixedly secured to the heavy walled portion.
 6. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 1 in which the rotary plug is made with two diameters and the stepped bore has its outer extent made as a bore which is larger than the bore portion which retains the larger diameter of the plug, this outer larger bore being made substantially the same length as the outer reduced diameter of the plug and there is provided a hardened steel sleeve which is sized so that its inner diameter provides a rotating guide and support for the outer reduced diameter of the plug and the outer diameter of the hardened sleeve is sized so as to snugly fit in this larger outer bore, the sleeve in mounted condition in the bore being substantially at the outer surface of the heavy walled portion and with the rotary plug in mounted condition, the mounted sleeve is fixedly secured in the heavy walled portion to prevent removal of the plug and the sleeve.
 7. A rotary lock protection member as in claim 6 in which are formed complementary grooves in the larger bore and the outer diameter of the hardened sleeve and permanent cement is used to fixedly secure the sleeve in the bore to provide the permanent mounting of the sleeve. 